Role: Alice Ward, a selfish and controlling woman who is harming her son’s chance to become a successful fighter.

How she got started: Melissa Leo developed an affinity for acting while living in London when she was 9 years old. She moved back to the U.S. to attend the State University of New York at Purchase and left during her junior year to pursue acting. Her first role was in the soap opera “All My Children” and she received a Day Time Emmy for her performance. Leo was also a series regular on the television series “Homicide: Life on the Street” and appeared in feature films such as A Time of Destiny,21 Grams, Confess and Frozen River, which earned her an Oscar nomination.

Other notable films: A Time of Destiny, Last Summer in the Hamptons, 21 Grams, Confess, and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada and Frozen River (Academy Award Nomination)

The 83rd Academy Awards airs on February 27 at 8pm.For a list of nominees, click here.